IDF Signals Possible Withdrawal: Backs Lebanon’s Plan to Disarm Hezbollah by 2025
Israel has pledged to gradually withdraw its forces from Lebanon if the Lebanese government disarms Hezbollah by the end of 2025, following a significant military campaign against the group. The move, contingent on Lebanese action, aims to foster regional stability amid ongoing tensions and a fragile ceasefire.
Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement today lauding the Lebanese government’s commitment to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025, signalling a potential thaw in regional tensions. Led by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Lebanon’s decision was hailed as a “momentous decision” that “marks a crucial opportunity for Lebanon to reclaim its sovereignty and restore the authority of its state institutions, military, and governance, free from the influence of non-state actors.”
Israel pledged support, stating, “In light of this important development, Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and to work together towards a more secure and stable future for both nations.” The statement promised that if the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) implement concrete disarmament steps, “Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of IDF presence in coordination with the US-led security mechanism.” It concluded, “Now is the time for both Israel and Lebanon to move forward in a spirit of cooperation, focusing on the shared objective of disarming Hezbollah and promoting the stability and prosperity of both nations.”
Israel’s military presence in Lebanon, ongoing since the November 2024 Operation Northern Arrows, followed a 14-month conflict sparked by Hezbollah’s rocket attacks after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel. The operation struck over 12,500 Hezbollah targets, including 1,600 command centers and 1,000 weapons storage facilities, with 1,000 targets in the Beqaa Valley and 360 in Beirut. The Israeli Air Force logged 11,000 strike missions, while the Navy conducted 25,000 targeted raids. Approximately 1,500 Radwan Forces targets and 150 weapons facilities were dismantled, with 2,500 senior Hezbollah figures, including leader Hassan Nasrallah, eliminated.
Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Israel continues targeted strikes to prevent Hezbollah’s rearmament, holding five strategic hills in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah insists on Israel’s withdrawal before disarmament discussions, creating a deadlock. The Lebanese cabinet’s August 7 decision, backed by a U.S. plan from envoy Tom Barrack, faces resistance from Hezbollah, with leader Naim Qassem warning of conflict if forced disarmament proceeds, raising fears of civil unrest.